Morning in a Busy City
December 12th began with a move from one hotel near Kuala Lumpur to another. Until my computer repair is finished, it feels like I'll be touring around the city from hotel to hotel.
Kuala Lumpur's mornings are always full of traffic—whether on big avenues or narrow streets, cars seem to crowd every corner. But around 10 a.m., the noise and chaos finally ease, and I set off to my next hotel. By 11 a.m., I was already nearby, though check-in wasn't until 1 p.m. That left me with some time to wander.
Discovering Chow Kit Market
In front of the hotel stood an enormous apartment block, old and weathered. Its faded colors reminded me of the buildings in Kowloon Walled City, once in Hong Kong. Just a short five-minute walk along the main road brought me to Chow Kit Market.
The market stretched ahead, full of life. From fruits and vegetables to fish, every kind of food was laid out. The vegetable section stretched for what felt like 150 meters, with stalls lined on both sides. The fruit section was just as long.
One fruit caught my attention—rambutan. It looked like lychee but tasted a little more sour. The best part was that vendors often let you taste before buying. That way, even unfamiliar foods became approachable.
One Indonesian worker offered me sample after sample until I had tried nearly every fruit at his stall. He told me he had left Indonesia because the wages in Malaysia were much higher. In his hometown, people earned about 20,000 to 30,000 yen per month, but in Malaysia, he could make almost double. Listening to his story, I understood why so many workers from Indonesia, Brunei, and Bangladesh came here.
Settling at the Cross Roads Hotel
After exploring the market, I returned to the hotel. This time it was Cross Roads Hotel, a simple place where one night cost about 2,000 yen. Like always, the moment I stepped inside, a sense of calm washed over me. I rested quietly until evening, waiting to meet a friend.
Reunion with a Traveler Friend
That night, I reunited with a friend I had first met in Thailand. Since then, he had traveled through the Philippines and Indonesia before arriving in Malaysia. Meeting someone again in a completely different country feels deeply special—a reminder of how travel connects people across borders.
We laughed, took a photo together in front of a strange shop with a bold "18+" sign and a broom displayed outside, and set off to explore Kuala Lumpur's night streets.
Street Food and Everyday Surprises
Wandering the city, we stopped at street stalls for dinner. Southeast Asia never fails when it comes to food—almost everything seems to suit the Japanese palate. I even spotted a giant vegetable that looked like oversized edamame and couldn't stop wondering what it was.
Crossing the streets, I noticed the push-button traffic lights. At first, I thought they were broken, but it turned out they simply wouldn't change unless pressed. A small detail, but one that made me smile.
Later, we found a 7-Eleven Café offering a mango soft-serve promotion for just 1 RM. Curiously, another 7-Eleven staff member had told me earlier that there was no campaign, but when I returned an hour later, the promotion was there after all. Maybe it just depends on the staff's mood.
Grateful for New Perspectives
Thanks to this friend, I discovered a different side of Kuala Lumpur. Staying in the same place for too long can create comfort and familiarity, but moving again opens the door to new encounters and experiences.
